95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB2512


 
Introduced 2/15/2008, by Sen. Terry Link
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		













105 ILCS 5/27-13.3










    Amends the School Code.  In a Section concerning an Internet safety education curriculum, provides that beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, a school district must incorporate into the school curriculum a component on Internet safety to be taught at least once each school year to students in grade 3 or above. Requires the State Board of Education to develop a model curriculum for educating children regarding child online safety.  Requires the State Board of Education to provide to each school district educational materials for parents regarding child online safety.
















LRB095 19817 NHT 46206 b

















FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY


STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
















 


 


A BILL FOR









 











SB2512

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    AN ACT concerning education.

 
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    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
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represented in the General Assembly:


 
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    Section 5. The School Code is amended  by changing Section 
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27-13.3 as follows:
 
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    (105 ILCS 5/27-13.3)

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    Sec. 27-13.3. Internet safety education curriculum.

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    (a) The purpose of this Section is to inform and protect 
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students from inappropriate or illegal communications and 
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solicitation and to encourage school districts to provide 
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education about Internet threats and risks, including without 
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limitation child predators, fraud, and other dangers.
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    (b) The General Assembly finds and declares the following:
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        (1) it is the policy of this State to protect consumers 
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    and Illinois residents from deceptive and unsafe 
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    communications that result in harassment, exploitation, or 
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    physical harm;
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        (2) children have easy access to the Internet at home, 
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    school, and public places;
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        (3) the Internet is used by sexual predators and other 
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    criminals to make initial contact with children and other 
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    vulnerable residents in Illinois; and
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        (4) education is an effective method for preventing 
 


 






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    children from falling prey to online predators, identity 
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    theft, and other dangers.
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    (c) Each school may adopt an age-appropriate curriculum for 
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Internet safety instruction of students in grades kindergarten 
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through 12.  However, beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, 
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a school district must incorporate into the school curriculum a 
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component on Internet safety to be taught at least once each 
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school year to students in grade 3 or above. It is hereby 
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recommended that the age-appropriate curriculum for Internet 
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safety instruction provide for a minimum of 2 hours of Internet 
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safety education each school year that includes instruction on 
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each of the following topics:
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        (1) Safe and responsible use of social networking 
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    websites, chat rooms, electronic mail, bulletin boards, 
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    instant messaging, and other means of communication on the 
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    Internet.
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        (2) Recognizing, avoiding,  and reporting online 
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    solicitations of students, their classmates, and their 
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    friends by sexual predators.
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        (3) Risks of transmitting personal information on the 
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    Internet.
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        (4) Recognizing and avoiding unsolicited or deceptive 
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    communications received online.
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        (5) Recognizing and reporting online harassment and 
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    cyber-bullying.
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        (6) Reporting illegal activities and communications on 
 


 






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    the Internet.
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        (7) Copyright laws on written materials, photographs, 
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    music, and video.
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    (d) Curricula devised in accordance with subsection (c) of 
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this Section may be submitted for review to  the Office of the 
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Illinois Attorney General.

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    (e)  The State Board of Education shall develop a model 
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curriculum for educating children regarding child online 
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safety, taking into consideration the curriculum on this 
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subject developed by other states, as well as any other 
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curricular materials suggested by education experts, child 
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psychologists, or technology companies that work on child 
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online safety issues.  Curriculum topics shall include without 
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limitation safe online communications, privacy protection, 
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cyber-bullying, viewing inappropriate material, file sharing, 
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and the importance of open communication with responsible 
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adults.
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    (f)  The State Board of Education shall provide to each 
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school district educational materials for parents regarding 
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child online safety. 
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(Source: P.A. 95-509, eff. 8-28-07.)